Origins of WWI

Long-term Causes

1. Nationalism (media - awareness - jingoism)

Unification of the German Empire under Bismarck (1864: Denmark, 1866: Austria, 1871, France -stole Alsace-Lorraine)

Russia: Pan-Slavism

2. Economic and Imperial Rivalries

Germany and Italy wanted to become world powers. Germany was becoming an economic threat.

3. Militarism (when the military has too much influence over politics)

Increasing rivalries, increasing military tensions. False sense of confidence and military superiority. Arms race, arms build-up. War and mobilisation plans locked the situation into place.

4. Alliance System

1839: Britain guaranteed Belgian neutrality

1873: Dreikaiserbund (Germany-Russia-Austria)

1879: Germany-Austria Dual Alliance

1882: Germany-Austria-Italy Triple Alliance

1887-90: Reinsurance Treaty (Russia-Germany)

1892: Russia-France Defensive Alliance

Short-term Causes

1905 Morocco France wanted Morocco, Germany visited the Sultan and called for an international conference on Moroccan independence. Algeciras Conference: Morocco independent but France given control over state police and.

1908 Bosnia-Herzogovina Austria annexed Bosnia-Herzogovina.

1911 Morocco (Agadir) Sultan facing riots and uprisings, France occupies Morocco. Germany protests and sends the Panther to Agadir, but backs down in return for Central African concessions.

1912-13 First Balkan War Serbia wants a port on the Adriatic Sea. Serbia, Greece, Montenegro and Bulgaria fight the Ottoman Empire for territory.

1913 Second Balkan War Serbia and Greece want Albania, Bulgaria wants Macedonia. Bulgaria fights Serbia. Albania becomes independent, Serbia and Bulgaria split Macedonia.

1914 Assassination of Franz Ferdinand Serbian Black Hand terrorist Gavrilo Prinsip shoots the heir to the Austrian throne. Austria sends an ultimatum to Serbia.

Military Mobilisation Austria declares war on Serbia, Russia mobilises first, forcing Germany to mobilise - military advantage/disadvantage.

Historiographical Views

Traditional: War Guilt clause 231 - Germany solely responsible.

Revisionist: None of the European countries wanted war, but all contributed in some way. Shared responsibility.

Fischer Thesis: Germans wanted war and European domination.

Marxist: Imperialism, the highest form of capitalism, led to war.